Multiple-jaw pipe vise



1951 c. ROBERTS 2,573,276

MULTIPLE-JAY? PIPE VISE Filed June' 29 1950 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT O FF 1 CE 2' Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pipe vises of the multiple jaw type.

The object of this invention is to provide a multiple jaw pipe vise which is capable" of holding two or more pipes parallel, whereby assembly of associated parts, as in the preparation of 'jet water pipes, ammonia coils, heating coils, refinery installations, etc. may be facilitated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. vise of the type described in 'Whi'chthe main elements of the structure are formed from conventional stock material which will provide for a more convenient manufacture and repair of parts.

Further objects -of--the invention will more clearly hereinafter appear by reference to the accompanying drawings and specification, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention with some parts being broken away and some being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing the connection between the base and the arms of the upper section; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

A fiat base I is illustrated, the shape of the base being subject to modification in accordance with requirements in the trade. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the base may contain slots or bolt holes, and /or any conventional clamping means whereby the structure can be secured in fixed or adjusted position. To the base I is secured as by welding the lower fixed frame of the vise, this frame being of elongated, inverted U-form to include the medial horizontal portion 2 and the legs 3 and 4, the lower extremities of the legs being fastened to or integral with the base plate I. This fixed section of the vise is of channel form in cross section, with the channel facing upwardly or outwardlyand the walls of the channels are provided with spaced pairs of longitudinally extending slots 5. Seated within the channels, and confined and guided by the walls of the medial portion 2 of the fixed frame, are the lower vise jaws 6, these jaws being secured by bolts '1 which extend through the slots to clamp the vise jaws in predetermined adjusted position within the limitation of the movement permitted by the slots 5. Hook engaging portions 8 project from each end of the horizontal portion 2 of the frame beyond the legs 3 and 4 and are preferably formed as an integral part of the structure for cooperation with hook members 39 to be hereinafter described. The horizontal porf2 tion 2 of the structure is formed at each end substantially inthe medial 'vertical'pla'ne of the legs -3 and 4 with transverse openings 9 for register with similar openings 9' formed'at the lowerends of the legs 14 and I5 o'fa 'hin'ged structure 12 to provide for the reception of a removable pivot pin It! by means'of which either leg of theupper section 12 of the vise assembly can be hingedly connectedtothe lower rigidsection.

The upper section I2 of the vise is also'of inverted 'U-form 'andis made Iirom stockchannel material of suitable dimensions. 'It' will be noted that the upper section which is hinged to the lower section has relatively long leg portions 14 and I5, and with the 'chan'neldacing inwardly a guide is provided for the vertically adjustable jaw'carrier I6. The jaw 'carrier l6 hasa ce'nt'ral bearing block I! with a "concave surface Torreceiving a ball I8 carried at the end 'of'the'ja'c'k screw I9, whereby this jack screw may be secured by plate 29 and bolts 2| for adjustment bithe sliding jaw carrier I 6. "The jack screw travels through a threaded block 22, and a handle 2'3 facilitates the lowering and raising of "the jaw carrier I6. Thejaw carrier [6 i's'ofcha'nnel' form :and is arranged with its end portions within the side walls of the parallel legs of the hinged section of the vise assembly, so that the side walls of the inwardly facing channel structure of the hinged section provides a guide for the movement of the jaw carrier. The jaw carrier has its channeled walls formed with spaced pairs of elongated slots 25, corresponding to the slots 5v of the lower fixed section, to permit the longitudinal relative adjustment of the upper jaws 26, which are seated in the traveling jaw carrier and confined between the side walls of the same. Bolts or other suitable fastenings 2! are provided for the jaws 26 to permit their adjustment for clamping cooperation with the lower jaws 6.

The upper section is hinged to the lower section by pins lfl, as heretofore stated, and these pins are readily removable to permit the hinging of either end of the upper hinged section of the vise. A wedge pin 28 engaging in a slot in the end of pin I0 will provide a convenient method of locking the pin in position and permitting its convenient removal for alternate arrangement at each end of the structure.

Located near the lower end of each of the legs l4 and I 5 of the upper hinged section is a clamping hook 30 pivoted on removable coaxial pins 3|, 3|, the hook being provided, ion-engagement with a selected one ofthe lugs-"Bat. the-ends of the lower frame. The clampfmg hook' 3G,, unted at either of two correspondingly located transverse openings 29 formed in the legs l4 and i5, and the clamping hook 30 can be changed from one leg to the other to permit the upper jaw of the clamp to swing on the selected axis. The pivot III, as heretofore stated, is in the form of a removable pin which extends through openings 9 and 9 and is removable to facilitate alternating the pivot axis of the upper frame.

Obviously from the proposed structure it is intended that both lateral and vertical adjustment be available for difierent width spacing as well as for different sized pipes. The vertical adjustment is permanently available by the shifting of the cross bar or jaw carrier 16 in the side channels of the legs I4 and I5 through the use of the jack screw H3. The lateral spacing is provided by the slots in the jaw carrier or cross bar '6 and the horizontal medial portion 2 of the bottom inverted frame member. Both the jaw carrier l6 and the medial element 2 are formed with pairs of aligned slots, which pairs are in parallel relation and provide for the lateral shifting of the jaws 6 and 26. Obviously the lateral shifting of the jaws permit the lateral spacing of the pipes and the vertical movement of the jaw carrier I 6 permits the clamping of pipes of any diameter. When and if necessary, the jaw members 6 and 26 can be inter-changed to provide jaws of varying shapes and sizes to improve the gripping facilities of the structure. It will be noted in the present structure, that both the upper and lower frame elements are formed from conventional channel stock, the lower frame structure having a channel facing upwardly, while the upper frame structure has the channel facing inwardly, the facing of the channels facilitating the inter-changing and arrangement of the parts, the operation of the various parts, and in securing desirable adjustments.

What I claim is:

1. In a multiple jaw vise, a base, a lower fixed frame element of inverted U-form carried by the base, said frame including an elongated medial horizontal portion, jaw members carried by said medial portion and adjustable along its axis of elongation, an inverted U-shaped upper vise section including a web portion and elongated vertical leg portions, a jaw carrier slidably engaging said elongated legs, said jaw carrier being provided with jaw members adjustable along a longitudinal axis of the jaw carrier, and a screw element extending through a central portion of said,

web portion and connected to said jaw carrier for vertically adjusting the latter.

2. In a multiple jaw vise, a base, a lower frame element of inverted U-form fixed to said base,

said frame element being of channel form with the channel facing outwardly and including an elongated medial horizontal portion, jaw members adjustably supported between the side walls of the medial portion of said lower fixed frame element, transversely extending means for adjustably securing said jaw members along a longitudinal axis of said frame element, an upper vise section including a medial horizontal portion and elongated vertical leg portions, said leg portions comprising confronting channels, a jaw carrier slidably engaging said leg channels, said jaw car rier being provided with elongated and downwardly projecting spaced side walls, jaw members supported between said side walls, means adjustably securing said jaw members to said side walls along the axis of elongation, and a screw element having its bottom end portion engaging the jaw carrier, said screw element being threaded through said medial portion of the upper vise section.

CLARK L. ROBERTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 838,143 Seymour Dec. 11, 1906 1,009,410 Hawkins Nov. 21, 1911 1,604,100 Kenerson Oct. 19, 1926 2,005,162 Petersen June 18, 1935 

